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Commissioners approve small-scale future land use map amendment for Jones property
Summary
Washington County commissioners approved a request to change 37 acres of a 95-acre parent parcel from conservation to agriculture/silviculture to allow a future single-family residence and limited agriculture-related uses.
Washington County commissioners voted to approve a small-scale future land use map amendment requested by Jason Jones that will change 37 acres of a 95-acre parent parcel from a conservation designation to agriculture/silviculture.
Why it matters: Under the county’s land-use code, land designated conservation generally prohibits development; changing the designation to agriculture/silviculture allows residential uses where the applicant proposes a house and accessory agricultural activity.
Planning staff said the parcel is in the county’s southeastern portion, accessible via Strickland Road from Highway 20 and fronting Porter Pond Road. Staff noted a creek along the parcel’s east side and said the Jones family intends to site development away from floodplain and wetlands in FEMA flood-zone X (area of minimal flood hazard).
Planning staff told commissioners the county met public-notice requirements, and a neighborhood information meeting on Dec. 19 drew no opposition. The county planning commission recommended approval at its Jan. 6 meeting, and commissioners voted to accept that recommendation as the final decision. Jason Jones attended the meeting and described the plan: “We just purchased the property…just planned on building 1 house there for a family and way away from the flood zone,” he said.
The approval changes the land-use designation only; any subsequent building permit, subdivision, or site-development work will require the county’s standard permitting and review processes.
Ending: With the amendment approved by the board, the applicant may proceed to follow-on permitting steps required by county staff and state or local agencies.
